Creations. Classes. Conversations
August 9 – 29, 2021
Boulevard Pavillion, Harbourfront Centre
Creations.
Esie Mensah Creations, Human Body Expression, Little Pear Garden Dance Company and Lua Shayenne Dance Company create new works in an outdoor studio at Harbourfront Centre’s Boulevard Pavillion. Witness the creative process unfold as these talented artists return to in-person collaboration and share their love of movement.
Open rehearsals take place Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am (except Wednesday August 11 from 2:15 pm).
Visit @nationalballet on Instagram for daily schedule or call 416 345 9595.
Click Here for the Full Schedule
Following the residency each company will present their works-in-process along with commentary from the creators on the Concert Stage. Presentations are free but require reservation. Booking begins August 18.
August 28 at 2:00 pm
Esie Mensah Creations and Human Body Expression
August 29 at 2:00 pm
Little Pear Garden Dance Company and Lua Shayenne Dance Company
About the Companies
Esie Mensah Creations
Esie Mensah is an award-winning choreographer, movement director, dancer, teacher and speaker whose creative footprint extends into many genres and disciplines. More >
Human Body Expression
Founded by choreographer Hanna Kiel, Human Body Expression strives to break the mold of traditional aesthetics to create hybrid movement forms and cultivate artistic individuality. More >
Little Pear Garden Dance Company
Led by Artistic Director Emily Cheung, Little Pear Garden Dance Company will be working in the Chinese Classical Han Tang style. More >
Lua Shayenne Dance Company
Lua Shayenne Dance Company presents contemporary dance and live music works rooted in the aesthetics and values of West African dance, rhythms and culture. More >
Classes.
Come and learn some new moves! We are offering beginner level dance classes in a range of styles, from Bollywood to Powwow and Classical Chinese Dance, taught by brilliant dance artists. Classes are free, fun and suitable for all ages!
Class Schedule:
August 10, 2:00 – 2:30 pm
Shiamak’s Bollywood Dance Class with Aryaan Kanji, Shiamak Toronto
Learn some fun, high-energy Bollywood choreography with Aryaan Kanji of Shiamak.
SHIAMAK Toronto is Ontario’s premier Bollywood dance academy teaching Shiamak’s signature Bollywood Jazz, Bolly Hop, Bolly Ada, Semi Classical, Bhangra Swag and many other dance styles kids, pre-teens and adults at several locations across the GTA. The SHIAMAK Toronto Dance Team is the most soughtafter team of Bollywood and Indo Jazz dancers and have performed some of the most prestigious events including the IIFA Awards, Just for Laughs, MOSAIC Festival and many others.
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August 12, 2:00 – 2:30 pm
Afrofusion with Esie Mensah, Esie Mensah Creations
Afrofusion is a blend of traditional and contemporary African styles fused with a multitude of dance styles such as Hip Hop, Dancehall, Soca, Contemporary, House and more, seamlessly put together to create a unique blend of movement.
Esie Mensah (she/her) is an artist whose creative footprint extends into many genres, disciplines and regions. As a dancer, choreographer, director, educator and public speaker, Mensah's mastery of storytelling is as diverse as her experience. From working with megastars like Rihanna, Drake and Arcade Fire to historic brands like Coca-Cola, TIFF and the Toronto Raptors, this powerful woman shows no sign of slowing down. She was a featured speaker at TEDx Toronto 2019, where she spoke about her experience as a dark-skinned dancer and the process of creating her Dora-nominated production Shades. Her short film, A Revolution of Love, opened Toronto History Museum’s ongoing Awakenings initiative to decolonize historic spaces. More recently, Esie announced the world premiere of her newest short film, TESSEL, co-commissioned by Fall For Dance North and Harbourfront Centre. TESSEL is a national call of healing supported by 21 dance organizations from across Canada, streaming online at www.tessel.film
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August 14, 2:00 – 2:30 pm
Powwow 101 with Naomi Martin and Derek Martin, Tribal Vision Dance
Learn the basics to powwow dancing: steps, styles and fun! Powwows are a social gathering for First Nations people to celebrate life, dance and sing.
Naomi Martin is Mohawk from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Southern Ontario. Dance and culture have always been an important part of her life. She is a Fancy Shawl dancer which is a popular dance at First Nations powwows. Naomi joined her first professional Native Dance Company in 1996 touring across Canada, USA, Germany, Italy, Norway, Austria, Korea and China. She won the World Smoke Dance Championship in 2006 and 2007 at the Schemitzun Festival of Green Corn in Connecticut. With her husband, Naomi opened Tribal Vision Dance in 2009 and have been touring ever since. She has taken on a new role of Indigenous dance instructor in the Commercial Dance program at Centennial College.
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August 17, 2:00 – 2:30 pm
Contemporary Jazz with Ryan Lee, independent artist and dancer, Human Body Expression
A fusion of contemporary movement and many styles of dance that allows musicality and self expression to come to life.
Independent Dance Artist Ryan Lee graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Emily Molnar, Guillaume Côté, Kevin O’Day, Stephen Pier, D.A. Hoskins, Darryl Tracy, Sharon B Moore, Julia Sasso and Menaka Thakkar. Ryan has worked for such companies as Human Body Expression, ProArteDanza, Toronto Dance Theatre, Kaeja d’Dance, Anandam Dancetheatre, inDANCE, Larchaud Dance Project, Transcendance, The Chimera Project and TOES for Dance. Ryan has toured internationally and has been nominated for Dora Mavor Moore awards for outstanding ensemble performance.
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August 19, 2:00 – 2:30 pm
Beginner Hip Hop with Shavar Blackwood, teacher with In Studio
Fun and energetic beginner level hip hop class, focused on rhythm, urban grooves and personality.
Throughout his career, Shavar Blackwood’s passion for dance has allowed him to take his ideas of the HipHop culture to the next level by fusing it with different forms of dance such as Contemporary, House, Popping and Krump. These principles have allowed him to work with many outstanding choreographers such as Luther Brown, Mandy Moore, Sean Cheeseman and Bill T Jones. A sought out choreographer, Shavar is currently the head coach of the Toronto Raptors official dance team, the North Side Crew. For Shavar, dance is not just an art form but also a way of life.
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August 21, 2:00 – 2:30 pm
Introduction to Flamenco Dance with Carmen Romero, Compañía Carmen Romero
Come discover your passion and dance Flamenco.
Carmen Romero is a leading and award-winning established flamenco dance artist whose experience in performance, education, production and adjudication, affirms her position in the national and international dance scene. “She belongs to the history of flamenco than few can attest to” Dance International. She coached Latin Popstar Shakira in 2010 and in 2000, Carmen represented Canada at the 9th Annual Certamen de Coreogrfia de Danza Espanola y Flamencoin Madrid and at the International Castanet Festival in Girona, Spain in 2014. Carmen breaks down barriers and explores the paths less travelled creating dance that is passionate and relevant.
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August 24, 2:00 – 2:30pm
Introduction to Afro-Contemporary with Kevin A. Ormsby, KasheDance
The class explores contemporary movement inspired by the dances of the African Diaspora with a particular focus on the Caribbean.
Artistic Director of KasheDance, Kevin A. Ormsby has performed with companies in Canada, USA and the Caribbean. Recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts’ Victor Martyn Lynch – Staunton Award and TAC Cultural Leaders Fellow, he has been a Guest Artist at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts - University of the West Indies (Mona), University of Wisconsin, Madison and Northwestern University. Kevin's research and creative practice exists in a space of constant interrogation and navigation of Caribbean cultural nuances towards a methodology of understanding space in creation, research and presentation.
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August 26, 2:00 – 2:30 pm
Chinese Han Tang Dance Style with Fang Wang, Little Pear Garden Dance Company
Han Tang dance is a classical Chinese dance style that often uses sleeves, high-color neck costumes, with props and extensive headpieces.
Fang Wang completed both her undergrad and master programs at the Beijing Dance Academy, specializing in choreography. In the past decade she has devoted her efforts to the teaching and choreography of Han Tang classical dance (Han dynasty and Tang dynasty). She has authored and published many textbooks in related subjects. Her curriculum and courses at the Bejing Dance Academy garnered awards for national excellence. Fang was part of the planning and production of several full length dance dramas and theatre productions.
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August 28, 1:30 – 2:00 pm
The Mexican Hat Dance or El Jarabe Tapatio with Jezreel Vazquez, Ballet Folklorico Puro Mexico
Learn Mexico's most iconic folk dance! The Hat Dance portrays the courtship of a couple. One dancer makes several attempts to get their partner's attention until succeeding and winning their heart.
Ballet Folklorico Puro Mexico is a Mexican dance company founded in May 2003 by Melissa Lowry and is currently directed by Jezreel Vazquez. The company is supported by a great board of directors that contribute to the growth of the organization. During its 18 years as a non-for-profit organization, Puro Mexico has grown exponentially thanks to the passion and dedication of each one of its members. They work tirelessly to promote Mexican folklore by committing to bring their best work forward with pride and professionalism to every audience.
Ballet Folklorico Puro Mexico is highly regarded by the Mexican community in Toronto. The organization keeps striving to promote Mexican cultural diversity in Canada by creating a space in which Mexican immigrants, as well as Canadian-born Mexicans, can reconnect with their roots.
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August 28, 2:30 – 3:00 pm
Whacking with Ashley ‘Colours’ Perez
Bam! Whack! Strike! Pose! Learn Whacking with Ashley Colours Perez. This class will leave you feeling refreshed and energized.
Ashley Perez is a Teacher, Dancer and Choreographer. She is the Co-Artistic Director of Mix Mix Dance Collective. Mix Mix has completed an Artist Residency at York Woods Library, showcased work at Fall For Dance North (2017) and Contemporaneity 3.0 (2019) and represented Canada at the Jeux de la Francophonie (2017) in Abidjan. Ashley’s talent was awarded the 2018 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Performance, Ensemble in the Dance Division for Floor’d presented by Holla Jazz in 2018. Ashley continues to teach street dances with her enterprise, class and is currently working on her MA in Dance at York University.
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August 29, 1:30 – 2:00 pm
Mood-Boosting Dance with Alyssa Martin, Rock Bottom Movement
A no-pressure-all-play collective dance party in which we will learn a piece of unison choreography while trying to conjure the feeling of superstardom. Beginners and all levels welcome.
Alyssa Martin is a choreographer and director blurring the lines of theatre, dance and comedy from a place of mischief. She most often creates with Rock Bottom Movement, the company she founded alongside friends. Creating work that sneaks into the dance, theatre, film and musical theatre realms has allowed Alyssa the opportunity to create and collaborate with work at Toronto Dance Theatre, Stratford Festival, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Canadian Stage, Tarragon Theatre, Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre, George Brown and X University among others. She tries to approach what she shares with a pressure-free-toss-the-noodles-on-the-wall energy.
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August 29, 2:30 – 3:00 pm
Powwow 101 with Naomi Martin and Derek Martin, Tribal Vision Dance
Learn the basics to powwow dancing: steps, styles and fun! Powwows are a social gathering for First Nations people to celebrate life, dance and sing.
Naomi Martin is Mohawk from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Southern Ontario. Dance and culture have always been an important part of her life. She is a Fancy Shawl dancer which is a popular dance at First Nations powwows. Naomi joined her first professional Native Dance Company in 1996 touring across Canada, USA, Germany, Italy, Norway, Austria, Korea and China. She won the World Smoke Dance Championship in 2006 and 2007 at the Schemitzun Festival of Green Corn in Connecticut. With her husband, Naomi opened Tribal Vision Dance in 2009 and have been touring ever since. She has taken on a new role of Indigenous dance instructor in the Commercial Dance program at Centennial College.
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Conversations.
Learn more about the incredible artists in Canada’s thriving dance community through our open discussions, where local dance artists join National Ballet dancers to discuss the creative process, their return to live performance and how they see their work fitting in with the ever-expanding world of dance.
August 9, 6:30 – 7:00 pm
Choreographer Vanesa G. R. Montoya speaks about her new creation for The National Ballet of Canada, which makes its world premiere at Harbourfront Centre.
August 11, 6:30 – 7:00 pm
Emily Cheung, Artistic Director of Little Pear Garden Dance Company and teacher/ choreographer Wang Fang will talk about a specific Chinese dance history a classical style called Han Tang. We will focus on the dance aesthetics relating to the movements and costumes. Come early to watch Little Pear Garden Dance Company in rehearsal!
August 13, 6:30 – 7:00 pm
The National Ballet of Canada’s artists have formed the Dancers Affinity Group, a cohort united by their passion for activism. As the company becomes more diverse, equitable and inclusive, the group works collaboratively with all areas of the organization to help build a healthier, culturally proficient work environment. Two members of the group will discuss their work so far and their goals moving forward.
August 16, 6:30 – 7:00 pm
Choreographer Esie Mensah of Esie Mensah Creations discusses her creative process with her Spiritual Advisor Samson Bonkeabantu Brown. Come early to watch Esie and her team of collaborators in action!
August 18, 6:30 – 7:00 pm
Choreographer Hanna Kiel and National Ballet First Soloist Jenna Savella discuss collaboration between contemporary dance artists and ballet dancers. Come early to watch Hanna creating a new work for her company, Human Body Expression!
August 20, 6:30 – 7 :00 pm
Umbereen Inayet is co-curator of New Monuments, a dance film co-produced by Canadian Stage and Luminato that examines imagines a future world where racist monuments no longer exist. Over 40 dancers and choreographers from across Toronto will take the audience on a cathartic journey of purpose from the beginning of colonization to a more hopeful and equitable future. Robert Binet joins Umbereen to discuss the project and the National Ballet of Canada’s involvement.
August 23, 6:30 – 7:00 pm
Choreographer Lua Shayenne and dramaturge Tawiah M’carthy discuss their collaborative creations process. Come early to see Lua working with her team of musicians on the new music for her new work WAVES | VAGUES.
Credits
Sharing the Stage is an initiative of Staging Change which is generously funded by the Metcalf Foundation.